Traction-truck



G. HEDWARDS.

Traction Truck,

N. PERS, PHOT0-LITMDGRAFHIBL WASHINGTON D. C.

g UNITED STATES; PATENT .t

Enron.

` GEORGE H. EDWARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRAcTloN-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Iatent No. 232,395, dated September 21 1880.

i Application filed January 23, 1880.

To all whom t may concern y Be it known that I, GEORGE H. EDWARDs,

- of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook,

State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in rFraction-Trucks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and the letters andigures marked thereon,forming a part thereof;

My invention pertains to the use of a folding, self-supporting, endless, trussed chainbelt or extended Wheel, in combination with any suitably-constructed truck, the chief features of the trussed chain-belt consisting of a parallel series of braces arranged perpendicular to the line of motion ofthe belt, and consecutively hinged together at the outer angles, and of slotted links consecutively hinged together at theinner angles of the braces, each series of links being parallel to the other and to the line of motion of the belt.

The object of my invention is to provide a tractor, to be propelled by a steam-engine or other suitable mechanical motor over firm or yielding surfaces, for pulling, pushing, and carrying purposes, as may be required for plowing and other uses, and that in such uses will exert a greater traction-power in proportion to its weight than other tractors heretofore produced.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a top view of a section of one of the braced chains of the traction-belt or extended Wheel viewed from its inner edge. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a section of the braces of one of the chains shown in Fig. 3, showin-g their positions in relation to each other' and their points of connection with each other and with the links; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the links, showing their positions as in relation to each other Y and the pointsof their connection with each made of any suitable material and construction; but as herein shown it is made of side pieces, (t a and a a', and end pieces,I a2 a2, of wood, secured to each other by metallic bolts a3 a3. The shafts b and b ofthe wheels or drums B B and B' are journaled to the side pieces a a by journal-boxes a4 a4 and a5 a5. The wheels or drums are arranged in relation to each other in such positions that B" laps between B B. And in said apparatus the endless belt or extended wheel C is constructed of parallel endless chains D D, respectively composed of a single, or preferably a double, series, cl d, parallel to each other, of braces, d', and of links F, of metal. The braces ol are cast solid or otherwise, made of a triangular or other suitable shape, and respectively provided with a perforation, d2, at each angle,-

through which they are consecutively hinged together in each series d, and each series d to the other in each chain D at the outer angles by means of bolts E, and at the inner angles they are consecutively hinged to the series of linksF and to each series d of the braces d in each chain D by means of bolts E, the links F bein g for such purpose respectively provided with a slot, f, and a perforation, f. The braces d are, at their peripheral edge, respectively provided with a laterally-projecting ange, d3, projecting oppositelyin each chain D. To the said flanges are secured, by bolts, the transverse traction-bars G, of wood or other suitable material.

The endless belt or extended wheel C is arranged and travels upon the peripheryof the wheels or drums B Band B.

The braces d in each chain D fold into each other radially at the curves ofthe belt C by means of the slot f of the links F, :and the links F, in combination with the braces d and the bolts E and E', form a firm and unyielding traction-bearing in the endless belt between the wheels or drums B B and B', free from the side rails, a a, of the truck-frame A. The wheels or drums B B, to which the motor is to be applied, are provided with lugs, b2, which engage corresponding mortises g in tractionbars G, for the purpose of increasing the tractive power of the apparatus.

I do not claim as new nor' as my invention the hereinbefore-described traction-frame A,

IOO

nor the Wheels or drums B B and B', nor the combination of a truck and an endless traction-belt for traction purposes, knowing that the same are old devices; neither do I herein claim as my invention by itself an endless trussed belt or extended wheel having braces perpendicular and slotted links horizontal to the line of motion ofthe belt, as apatent showing` such devices Was issued to me by the United States Patent Office, bearing date February 27, 1872, and numbered 124,042 but What I claim as new, as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination With the Wheels or drums B B and B' and the traction-bars G, the endless parallel chains D, composed of iiange d, braces d', slotted links F, and bolts E and E', the

braces being arranged perpendicular and the links horizontal to thc line of motion of the chains or traction-belt, and being respectively constructed and arranged in relation to each other, to the Wheels or drums, and to the traction-bars so that they fold with each other upon the Wheels or drums and form between the latter an nnyielding` self-sullporting traction-bearing, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

GEORGE H. EDWARDS.

In presence of- ANN JOHNSON, DANIEL STONER. 

